The Bears are so intent on improving their dreadful defense that they’re willing to turn over every rock in their search for linemen that can help.
According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN, the Bears have signed former 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald. McDonald played for new Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in San Francisco.
But McDonald got into plenty of hot water with the law last year. He was arrested in a felony domestic violence case in August, but prosecutors said in November that he would not be charged. McDonald was later accused of rape in December. The 49ers released him that same day, and he’s been without a team since. Earlier this month, McDonald sued the woman that accused him of rape because he was never charged in the incident and it cost him his job.
Ending up back in the league so quickly just goes to show that teams will give you a second chance as long as you still have talent and can contribute. Unlike Ray Rice, who showed serious signs of decline before his domestic violence incident, McDonald was playing at a high level at the time of his. At 30 years old, McDonald was one of the league’s better 3-4 defensive ends last season.
In Chicago, he’ll join veterans Jeremiah Ratliff and Jarvis Jenkins, as well as second-year pros Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton on the defensive line. Providing McDonald stays off the police blotter, he’ll have a good chance to start in 2015.